case study of anti-corruption sharan dr. fuse fall 2011

8/2/2019 Case Study of Anti-Corruption Sharan Dr. Fuse Fall 2011

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Final ProjectCase. Anti-Corruption Movement in India

ByShambhu Sharan

Koji Fuse, Ph.D.Mayborn School of Journalism

University of North TexasJOUR 5100-002

Fall 2011


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1. Background and Overview of Anti-corruption movement in India

India, a southern Asian developing country, has the second largest population of theworld. It ranks the second most populated country. India has been facing grass rootcorruption problems since its independence from the United Kingdom. Recently political

corruptions outraged anger among the people of India. A social worker Anna Hazare andSwami Ramdev fasted, which motivated millions of Indian people. They advocate protestagainst the Indian government following non-violence principal of late Mahatma Gandhi.

Former Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi said 20 years ago that the thousands of millions of rupees in government grants for the welfare of impoverished citizens, only tenpercent reaches those for whom the funds are intended. According to Bal Mundkur,author of Incredible India, Incredible India is a myth and insult to Indias 950 million

poor. Division between Indias rich and poor is growing rapidly. Discrimination based oncolor, religion and cast is deeply entrenched. Corruption is endemic, from the highestlevels of the legislature downwards. Incompetent administration is epitomized by chaotic

planning for the Commonwealth Games and by dubious defense procurements. For example, the world-famous movie, Slumdog Millionaire, which won eight Oscarawards, showed the extreme poverty of Indias slums and its inhabitants. The slum kidswho acted in the movie received very little after the movies big success, and still live inthe slums now, while the movie director, Danny Boyle made millions (Times, 2011).

2. Problems and opportunities

India has many socio-economic problems, such as poverty, unemployment, corruptionand illiteracy. The major cause of corruption starts on top-level government, politiciansand corporate officials. The entire structure of Indian system is corrupt. People have topay bribe to get their work done faster. Politicians are not required to be educated. LaluYadav, a Member of Parliament appointed his wife as the chief minister of Bihar statewhen he resigned from the CM post due to his involvement in the Fodder scam. Therewere several scandals in Nov 2007 wiretapping of corporate lobbyist Nira Radia in theRadia tapes controversy.

India hosted the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Before the game officials wereconcerned with the purchase of equipment for the village flats claimed five times themarket price for toilet paper. Indians are alleged to have the largest cash deposits stowedaway overseas. Indians are believed to have nearly a trillion dollars in Swiss bank andother offshore accounts. (Mundkur).

India can boast that almost 75 percent of parliament and legislative members havecriminal records, or are scrutinized by the Central Bureau of Investigation and police forcrimes ranging from corruption and land scams to murder. Late Phoolan Devi, a robberand murderer, was elected as a Member of Parliament after her release from prison(Mundkur).

According to Manoj Srivasatava, India failed to deliver promises made to therural people. Government programs for the poor are sometimes not welcomed by theirsupposed beneficiaries and, in any case, are massively distorted by low-level bureaucrats
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radia_tapes_controversyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radia_tapes_controversy


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who think in terms of family, caste or community, who expect favors to be returned forfavors performed. Even corrupt officials find themselves in a more complex set of relationships than is acknowledged in a simple theory of rent seeking. Perhaps especiallyin Bihar, given the publicity that has been given to the cattle fodder scam.

Political leaders were charged with telecommunication scams in 2011.According to Hindustan Times newspaper report, In 2007 -08, when the government issued 122 newtelecom licenses, several rules were violated and bribes were paid to favour certain firms.Several licenses were issued to firms with no prior experience in the telecom sector orwere ineligible or had suppressed relevant facts ( Hindustan Times, April 27, 2011).

The violations cost the exchequer $39 billion in lost revenue, Audit says. Police accusedAndimuthu Raja, the then-telecom minister, of taking bribes from two firms. The reportsparked political outrage and the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party. Raja was forcedto resign and was arrested. Many of India's biggest business names were questioned,including billionaires Anil Ambani, chairman of Reliance ADA group, and Prashant

Ruia, chief executive of Essar Group. Unemployment and rising poverty caused outrageamong public. Several incidents happened before the big rally at New Delhi in March andJune 2011. At first on October 29, 2010, India Against Corruption organized an anti-corruption press conference to investigate the Commonwealth Games scam. After that theorganization registered a complaint of corruption in the Commonwealth Games scam.About 10,000 people assembled at the Parliament Street Police Station. The nationalgovernment did not pass anti-corruption bill. On April 5, 2011, a social activist AnnaHazare began hunger strike as an anti-corruption movement at Jantar Mantar in NewDelhi. Hazare gave deadline to pass Jan Lokpal Bi ll before Indias Inde pendence DayAugust 15. Media published and broadcast the news nationwide. Hazare was known inhis state for his social work before his protest.

According to The Economic Times, Social Activist Anna Hazare launched an indefinitehunger strike against corruption in New Delhi on Tuesday. He asked the government toinclude more stringent measures in the Lokpal Bill, 2010, meant to tackle corruption in

public life (The Economic Times, April 6,2011 ). Other media, Oneindia.in said,Corruption allegations agai nst most of the political leaders and the inaction from thegovernment's side compelled the "aam admi" [general public] to join the protest of theanti-graft crusader Anna Hazare (Oneindia.in, April 6, 2011). The 'fast-unto-death' bythe 73-year-old social activist pushed the government into a corner at a time when it isfacing an integrity crisis, following a series of 'big ticket' scams and the imprisonment of a cabinet minister. About 150 people joined the April fast with Hazare. Congressgovernment gave assurance to pass the bill in monsoon session and Anna ended his fast.

Indian opposition political party leaders supported the Hazares movement . FollowingHazares protest, the second protest took place at Ramlila Maidan, New Delhi. SwamiRamdev, an Indian yoga teacher addressed press conference about the demonstration.Before the protest four senior Union ministers met Ramdev to discuss his issues anddemands at Delhi Airport on June 1, 2011. The Political leaders had meetings withRamdev and they agreed to fulfill Ramdevs demand. However, Ramdev went for his


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hunger strike.The government official said Ramdev had permission to have yoga Shivir. And thecapacity of the ground was beyond to accommodate the crowd. Ramdev addressed hisRamdevs Web si te posted messages that the time has come to arise and support himfight against Black Money and Corruption on June 4. Ramdev announced his nationwide

movement programs against corruption on his Astha channel television and other printand broadcast media on April 24. Ramdev asked government to pass a Lokpal Bill, whichwould be an independent committee and would be form to take action against corruptpeople including government officials. He asked to take action who found guilty incorruption charges should be executed.

According to Ramdev, Government must bring black money of politicians and people of India from overseas Swiss and other banks. Ramdev demanded the Indian government todeclare national property of all black money. Ramdev attracted millions of people.Protests were held in many different parts of country, including the cities of India.Protests against the action also spread to Nepal. On the midnight of 5 June, police raided

the site where Ramdev was fasting and sleeping and forcefully removed his supportersfrom the site after firing tear gas shells and resorting to lathicharge to end his day-oldindefinite hunger strike. Ramdev jumped from the stage when police came, changed hisdress as a woman and covered his face with scarf and tried to hide to save himself frompolice arrest. Police arrested and moved him to his headquarter Haridwar, Uttar Pradesh.


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Ramdev wears a women's kurta as he speaks to journalists from hisashram in Haridwar, June 5, 2011.(Curtesy CNN IBN)

Ramdev addressed a press conference in the woman dress and explained why did he dothat. He accused government of being brutal like British, when they ruled India and killedinnocent people. He was admitted to hospital and did not break his fast until he becamevery sick. Many political and religious leaders requested to break fast and Ramdev endedhis fast. Many people were injured and moved to hospital, four of them were reported tobe in critical condition, and one of them Rajbala died recently.
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On July 18, 2011, Hazare declared that he had written a letter to the Prime Minister abouthis decision to go on an indefinite fast from 16 August at Jantar Mantar. On the morningof August 16, 2011, Hazare was picked up by police at about 7.30 am from a residence ineast Delhi by Delhi police. Late afternoon, he was produced before a special executive

magistrate. Hazare refused to sign a personal bond to be allowed to get out on bail he wasremanded in judicial custody for seven days. A spokesperson for Team Anna said that hehad begun his hunger protest while in police custody. Anna Hazare agreed to leave jailafter Delhi Police granted him permission to fast for 15 days against corruption atRamlila Maidan where Ramdev did fast.

A debate on the Jan Lokpal bill was held in both Indian parliament houses and the leadersof all the parties agreed to accept the issues. Hazare agreed to break his fast after 12 days.At the time of breaking his fast, Hazare said he was suspending his fast for the time beingand will end it only after the Indian Parliament passes the strong Lokpal bill.

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Indian governments response The Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh called Ramdev a "cheat" and "fraud."Singh said that "Both Hazare and Ramdev are blackmailing the government and theyshould first peep into their own hearts." The congress leader commented on the midnightpolice action and said, "It was not a crackdown, we had to do it to maintain law andorder . BJP leaders called the police action to break up the hunger strike undemocratic.The Supreme Court of India issued notices to the Union Home Secretary, Chief Secretaryof Delhi, Delhi administration, and Delhi Police Commissioner asking them to respondforceful eviction of Ramdev and his followers from the Ramlila ground. As protests builtup in several cities and towns over the arrest, Prashant Bhushan, one of Hazare's keyassociates, announced a march from India Gate to Parliament House on Wednesday toprotest against the police action. Activists had no initial research but later had.Activists were committed to fight with government to pass the bills against corruption.They wanted to have good life.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department_of_Police,_Delhihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department_of_Police,_Delhi


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Ramdev photo curtsey

Kiran Bedi holds sign board written in Hindi of End Exploitation (Left) and Anna Hazare sits to fast as protest against corruption


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4. Target publics media and Community Tools

Local, national and international newspapers published the news. Activists used pressrelease, magazines, newsletters and websites and television. They used social media, suchas the Facebook, Twitters, Blogs and YouTube to inform Indian community. Overseas

Indian donated money and protested against the government in front of the Indianconsulate offices.

5. Strategies and Tactics

Indian government did not handle the situation properly when Ramdev was protesting.The Congress government became unpopular after attacking and beating people. Thegovernment lost an election in Hisar, Haryana. Ramdev had no public relation officials toaddress the issues. They did not know how to respond to the police attack. He was theonly person to address the press. His colleague had no expertise in public relations. Hewas alone one to address the media. Government charged his colleague Balkrishna

having a fake Indian passport and educational certificate.

Hazare learned lesson and handled situation in a better way. The government also learnedlesson from Ramdevs protest . The officials did not criticize Hazare as much as Ramdev. The government branded movement as political and religious. They gave assurance to theleaders . The government officials used Divide and conquer policy to weekend themovement. Anna Hazares team member, Swami Agnivesh became informer of theIndian government. Agnivesh asked Anna to break his fast. The government used mediato confuse people. Hazare has many experienced social activists such as, Kiran Bedi,Indian Police Service, Arvind Kejriwal, a social activist and Prashant Bhusan, theSupreme Court of Indias lawyer. He has no any business and religious affiliation. Healready has done good work, making a model village.

6. Evaluation

Ramdev and Hazare both speak Hindi not English. However, both attracted thousands of people against corruption and government all around the world. Ramdev could have beenarrested like Hazare. However, Ramdev expressed he would have been killed by theDelhi police. Hazare has many spokesperson to counter the governments attack. Hazarehad political experiences by being a social leader. On other hand, Ramdev handles mediaalone without being a political leader. He has businesses and foundations and governmenttold media about Ramdevs unaccounted money. Ramdev invited religious and politicalparty leaders to sit on stage and they gave speeches against corrupt officials and thegovernment. Hazare did not allow other political party leaders to sit with him on thestage.

Politics and corruption in India is mixed up between the personalities of toppoliticians, their charisma, their families and relatives, and policy decisions andcommitments. For example, in several cases, the Chief Ministers of Indias southern


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states have close links to cinema celebrities and the fan clubs. This often results in aconflict of interest between official and family obligations that can result in corruptpractices by politicians.

The cattle fodder scam is another example, where La loo Yadav, the Chief Minister of Bihar state lost power in 1997 after he and his allies were accused of stealing

millions of dollars from agricultural development programs for their own enrichment(Cohen, 35-36).

Another well-publicized instance of govern ment corruption is the 2001 Operation WestEnd scandal where the Internet news website, Tehelka.com broadcast videotaped proof.This one occurred at the highest level, where even the Indian Defense Minister and twokey political party heads submitted their resignations. Evidence taped showed mainfigures of the political elite receiving bribes to close a deal to sell military equipment tothe Indian Army (Mazzarella, 473-475).

Corruption also occurs when funds allocated by the government to benefit the rural poor

fail to reach them. Up to half the funds in many cases, as dishonest public workscontractors, corrupt politicians; government bureaucrats on all levels together conspire todivert the funds. A case in point is the EAS (Employment Assurance Scheme) in the1990s where corrupt local officials in collusion siphoned off funds for programs in fiveeastern states of India to bring employment to the rural poor there with contractors,government servants, and richer peasants (Srivastava, 267-269)

Corporate fraud, scandals and corruption in India are more rampant than is generallyknown. This is the result of the greed of large-scale corporate leaders hand-in-hand withcrooked government officials. It is also due to the shift in the governments role as acontrolling entity of corporations to a regulating one. So dishonest individuals on bothsides for their mutual and self-interest exploit loopholes and weaknesses in the system.

Examples of such financial scandals where major frauds were committed and wentunpunished for a long time due to poor monitoring by government agencies, crookednessand also a slow legal system, are the Harshad Mehta scam and the Ketan Parekh scam.Both involved fraudulent practices in the stock markets, securities and exchange sectors,payoffs to top government officials (Sudhakar, 70-81).


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APA References

Bharat Svabhiman. Retrieved fromhttp://bharatswabhimanusa.org/?p=29

CNN IBN . (2011). Anna Hazare arrives in Delhi, to fast tomorrow.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTT37WrbRcQ

-----------. Retrieved fromhttp://ibnlive.in.com/photogallery/4111-1.html

Economic Times . Retrieved fromhttp://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-04-

06/news/29388683_1_lokpal-bill-anna-hazare-hunger-strike Hindustan Times . (April 27, 2011). Retrieved from

http://www.hindustantimes.com/What-is-2G-scam-all-about/Article1-690190.aspx

Go4online. Baba Rabdev Back in Delhi UPA Congress Government in Danger zoneagain. Retrieved fromhttp://wp.go4onlineinfo.com/baba-ramdev-back-in-delhi-%E2%80%93-upa-congress-government-in-danger-zone-again/

Lamb, L. F. and Britain, C. (2009). Applied Public Relations: Cases in Stakeholder Management. New York: Routledge.

One India . (August 18, 2011). Retrieved fromhttp://news.oneindia.in/2011/08/18/fodder-scam-court-rejects-lalu-application.html

Xnews . (2011). SC questions govt over Ramdev crackdown. Retrieved fromhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-BvFEwAITE

case study of anti-corruption sharan dr. fuse fall 2011

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